Company

LAM Aviation – About Us

LAM Aviation produces high-lift and stability systems based on the original patented LAM Aileron. The LAM Aero System integrates our high-lift device and wing control to improve aircraft fuel efficiency, range, useful load, and both high-speed cruise and low-speed performance. Our innovative design is ideal for all types of aircraft including VTOLs and UAVs that need improved performance and stability. LAM Aviation, Inc. is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and backed by a veteran team of aviation engineers, award-winning aircraft designers, and accomplished pilots.

Leadership Team

Dr. Michael Lam, Founder and Chairman

Michael helped his father, Larry, construct the family’s experimental Wanderer, the first aircraft equipped with a LAM Aileron, and spent countless hours under his tutelage. Seeing an opportunity to improve all aircraft, he and his father patented the LAM Aileron. Since Larry’s passing, Michael has developed Lam Aviation, Inc. into a company providing advanced aircraft control systems based on his father’s innovations. Michael is a licensed pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings. He is a graduate of Tulane Medical School, completed post-doctoral specialty training at Stanford and currently practices as a physician anesthesiologist in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Erik Stephansen, President and CEO

Erik has over 20 years of experience in various leadership roles and developing branded companies. He managed corporate development and sales strategy for Fortune 500 companies and Erik is a graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara with advanced certificates from Stanford University. He is an aerobatic pilot and aviation enthusiast.

Board of Directors

Noah Doyle

During a 20+ year career as an entrepreneur and investor, Noah Doyle has supported more than a dozen start-ups including Keyhole (Google), Cantametrix (Gracenote), Amae Software (Verint), Nuvon, Aquea Scientific, Ritter Natural Sciences, Emdigo, Magnacash (Yaga), and i-mint India. Noah most recently directed the enterprise product line for Google’s geospatial products, Google Earth and Google Maps. Noah is currently the Managing Director at Javelin Venture Partners. Noah holds MBA and BA degrees in economics, as well as certificates in Management of Technology and Global Management from the University of California at Berkeley.

Mark W. Heising

Mark Heising serves as Managing Director of Medley Partners, a Palo Alto, California-based investment firm he founded in 2004. Previously he was the President of VLSI Cores, which designs and licenses cryptographic integrated circuits. Mark held various positions at Quickturn Design Systems, Cylink and Proximity Designs. He holds six U.S. patents in cryptography, compression and data communications. Mark serves as a director for Lam Aviation and Sion Power. He is a board observer for Solexant. On the non-profit side, Mark currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Advisory Board to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Mark earned a BS in Physics and a MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley.

Aerodynamicist, Design and Construction

Greg Cole, Windward Performance

Like Larry Lam, Greg Cole also grew up building airplanes. After graduating with degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering and a specialization in low Reynolds number Aerodynamics, Greg began his career developing aircraft propellers. Eventually, Greg came to design the Columbia 300, which was the first new design certified in seventeen years and is now widely respected for its exceptional low-speed handling. Greg soon became interested in soaring flight and is now working on the Perlan Project, with a goal to fly a glider to a record-breaking altitude of 90,000 feet.

Flight Test and Evaluation

Len Fox

Len Fox has twenty years of experience as a U.S. Naval Aviator, with a specialty in Operational Tests and Evaluation. A Top Gun Pilot, Len has flown fifteen military aircraft types, including A-4, F-5, A-7, AV-8, F-15, F-16, FA-18, AH-1, S-3 and OV-10,and has specialty qualifications in Fighter, Attack, Adversary, Antisubmarine and Operational Test. Len has led 17 Military Operational Test programs and more than 165 civilian test projects, including aerobatic aircraft, airshow aircraft, spin testing, Ag aircraft, bush aircraft, experimental jets, and turboprop test. Len is the president of Cascade Aircraft Development Company, which produces the Chanute aerobatic aircraft. He is a FAA DER Flight Test Pilot and an EAA Flight Advisor. Len is the 1999 Oregon / Washington unlimited aerobatic champion and the recipient of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots – Spirit of Flight Award 2005. Len is a graduate of Villanova University with a BS in Business Administration, and the Navy Fighter Weapons School.

Advisors

Darren Pleasance

Darren is currently an executive at Google, Inc. following a fourteen-year career as a consultant and Partner at a leading global management consulting firm. During his career, Darren has worked across a broad range of industries including high-tech and aerospace with a focus on business strategy and sales and marketing performance improvement. Prior to his business career, Darren spent nearly a decade as a professional pilot, working as a flight instructor, charter pilot, Alaska bush pilot, and corporate pilot. Today, Darren continues to pursue his aviation passion by flying for personal travel and fun and serving as an appointed Board member for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

Mike Schrader

Since his first job pumping jet fuel, Mike has engaged in nearly every aspect of aviation. He has worked as an aircraft mechanic, owned an aircraft overhaul business, managed a fixed based operation, directed marketing for Lancair International, served as regional sales executive for Flying Magazine, and was the national sales manager for Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing. Mike currently owns and operates Aristos Aviation Services, an aircraft brokerage business. He also consults for Rocket Racing League and is a licensed pilot.